title: Molecular characterization of group A rotaviruses detected in children with gastroenteritis in Ireland in 2006-2009.
abstract: Community and hospital-acquired cases of human rotavirus are responsible for millions of gastroenteritis cases in children worldwide, chiefly in developing countries, and vaccines are now available. During surveillance activity for human rotavirus infections in Ireland, between 2006 and 2009, a total of 420 rotavirus strains were collected and analysed. Upon either PCR genotyping and sequence analysis, a variety of VP7 (G1-G4 and G9) and VP4 (P[4], P[6], P[8] and P[9]) genotypes were detected. Strains G1P[8] were found to be predominant throughout the period 2006-2008, with slight fluctuations seen in the very limited samples available in 2008-2009. Upon either PCR genotyping and sequence analysis of selected strains, the G1, G3 and G9 viruses were found to contain E1 (Wa-like) NSP4 and I1 VP6 genotypes, while the analysed G2 strains possessed E2 NSP4 and I2 VP6 genotypes, a genetic make-up which is highly conserved in the major human rotavirus genogroups Wa- and Kun-like, respectively. Upon sequence analysis of the most common VP4 genotype, P[8], at least two distinct lineages were identified, both unrelated to P[8] Irish rotaviruses circulating in previous years, and more closely related to recent European humans rotaviruses. Moreover, sequence analysis of the VP7 of G1 rotaviruses revealed the onset of a G1 variant, previously unseen in the Irish population.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, Cork Institute of Technology, Rossa Avenue, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cashman
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lennon
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cryan
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martella
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanning
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Staines
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: O'Shea
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000821:virology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; C060339:VP4 protein, Rotavirus; C050779:VP7 protein, Rotavirus